Biodiesel production from palm oil using heterogeneous catalysts CaO and CaO/Al2O3 | |
| Author | Wittavat Chaiwong |
| Call Number | AIT Thesis no.FB-10-05 |
| Subject(s) | Biodiesel fuels Palm-oil |
| Note | A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Food Engineering and Bioprocess Technology, School of Environment, Resources and Development |
| Publisher | Asian Institute of Technology |
| Series Statement | Thesis ; no. no.FB-10-05 |
| Abstract | Biodiesel, a sustainable fuel, is being used as a substitute to petroleum - based diesel due to energy crisis and environmental benefits. Transesterification of vegetable oils or animal fats with methanol in presence of catalyst produces fatty acid methyl es ter (FAME) and glycerol as co - product. In conventional homogeneous alkali catalyzed transesterification processes, undesired side reactions occur. Therefore, further purification of biodiesel and glycerol is needed. This study was focused on the transest erification of refined, bleached and deodorized palm oil (RBD palm oil) using heterogeneous catalysts CaO and CaO/γ - Al 2 O 3 . Parameters like amount of catalyst, molar ratio of methanol to oil, reaction time and reaction temperature that affect methyl ester and glycerol formation were analyzed. The optimum condition s of meth anolysis using calcium oxide were 9 wt.% catalyst, molar ratio of methanol to oil of 12:1, reaction time of 2 h, and reaction temperature of 60°C to obtain 90.11% biodiesel conversion and 81.84% glycerol yield. Whereas the optimum condition s for supported heterogeneous catalyst CaO/γ - Al 2 O 3 were 9 wt.% catalyst, 15:1 molar ratio of methanol to oil, 3 h reaction time and 60°C which produced the highest biodiesel conversion and glycerol yield at 86.38% and 79.32%, respectively. Moreover, FAME content and glycerol content obtained from using CaO provides were lower purity at 96.75% FAME content and 92.73% glycerol content than that using CaO/Al 2 O 3 at 97.66% FAME content and 96.36% glycerol conte nt. This was because of leaching of calcium active species into the media. In comparison, when sodium hydroxide was used as the homogeneous catalyst for comparison purpose, the glycerol was 64.47% purity and the yield of glycerol obtained was only 65.61%. Biodiesel properties were examined including es ter content, density at 15°C, viscosity at 40 ° C and acid number. Characteristics of biodiesel produced by using heterogeneous catalyst via both CaO and CaO/Al 2 O 3 were similar to that using convention biodiesel production via NaOH. Most of the tested properties met the specification of biodiesel properties; therefore, biodiesel product can be effectively used in diesel engines. Most importantly, glycerol produced f rom heterogeneous c atalyzed transesterification had a much higher purity and can be used for the production of value added products directly. |
| Year | 2010 |
| Corresponding Series Added Entry | Asian Institute of Technology. Thesis ; no. no.FB-10-05 |
| Type | Thesis |
| School | School of Environment, Resources, and Development (SERD) |
| Department | Department of Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources (Former title: Department of Food Agriculture, and BioResources (DFAB)) |
| Academic Program/FoS | Food Engineering and Bioprocess Technology (FB) |
| Chairperson(s) | Rakshit, Sudip Kumar; |
| Examination Committee(s) | Athapol Noomhorm;Anal, Anil Kumar; |
| Scholarship Donor(s) | RTG Fellowship; |
| Degree | Thesis (M.Sc.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 2010 |